Hudson County Community College holds vigil for school massacre victims

Students, faculty and local residents held a candlelight vigil at the Hudson County Community College’s student center in Journal Square yesterday morning for those who lost their lives in last week’s Connecticut school shooting.

The event was organized by the members of Beta Alpha Phi, the Hudson County chapter of Honors Society Phi Theta Kappa, along with help from James Dobles, a senator in the college’s student government.

“The innocence of the little kids really hit me hard,” said Beta member Casey Hugh-Francis Collado about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. “We really thought we should do something to pay our respects to them.”

Candles were passed out and lit as the ceremony began and a slide show of the deceased was shown. The Beta members read the names of the 20 children and six adults who were shot and killed at the school.

Members of the crowd held their candles as the names were read, many with tears in their eyes.

“We felt this was something that needed to be done, even though it was during finals week,” said Victor Lopez Jr., vice president of Beta Alpha Phi.

After the slideshow presentation, Beta Alpha Phi member Nadya Simpson delivered a moving rendition of Sarah McLachlan’s “In the Arms of an Angel.”

“It’s hard to know that these parents have to go through this tragedy, especially it being so close to the holidays,” said student Christi Bunting, secretary of the school’s teachers education club. “It’s a shame kids have to see their friends in caskets.”

Angel Ayala, a first-year student at HCCC, finished his classes a week ago, but made sure to return for the vigil.

“It’s such a sad thing overall,” Ayala said. “I don’t know how someone could do something like that. I’m here to remember what happened that day.”